Daily Digest: Oct. 2

Our daily digest is a mid-day update on the stories we’re following in Texas politics today. Here’s what we’re working on:

Las Vegas Shooting Latest:

At least 59 people are dead after a man broke out the window of his 32nd floor hotel room and started firing on a concert crowd below.

The shooter is believed to have killed himself before police got into his hotel room.

More than 515 people were injured and hundreds are still in the hospital.

The shooter’s family said he has ties to Texas, having lived near Dallas at one point.

We will have the latest on the massacre at 7pm.

Texas Lawmakers Reaction:

Texas lawmakers are reacting to Sunday night’s shooting.

Gov. Abbott said in a statement: “The news of this senseless act of violence in Las Vegas overnight is heartbreaking…Texas mourns and prays for the victims of this tragedy, and the entire Las Vegas Community in this time of unimaginable pain.”

Sen. Ted Cruz called the shooting despicable. Meanwhile Sen. John Cornyn offered up a hotline for victims’ families to call to locate their loved ones.

Dr. Tom Mijares:

Dr. Tom Mijares is a criminal justice professor at Texas State University, retired SWAT officer and wrote the book Significant Tactical Police Cases. He tells our Karina Kling this type of tragedy is the “new normal.” Watch the full interview at 7pm.

ACL Preps After Vegas:

Major outdoor events are planned for the next three weekends in Austin. Police Chief Brian Manley held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss how the department is reviewing security plans in light of the Las Vegas attack.

“At this time there are absolutely no threats that have been made against ACL, nor have we heard any indication that anyone is targeting any large-scale events around the country right now,” Manley said.

State Lawmakers Hear Harvey Relief Funds Could Take Years:

It could be months before Texans trying to rebuild after Hurricane Harvey get federal funds for their homes.

Short-term FEMA money is already flowing in for relief like debris removal. But Land Commissioner George P. Bush told state lawmakers at a hearing in Houston Monday that the Housing and Urban Development disaster relief funds could take seven to 32 months to help get people permanently situated.

Lawmakers also tried to gauge the state costs of coping with Harvey’s destruction.

“There will be greater costs to the state associated with this hurricane than we have seen in the past with any other natural disaster,” Comptroller Glenn Hegar said.

Hegar said the ultimate impact is difficult to discern. but a large cost to the state will be in the area of public education.

On the Agenda:

The Quorum Report’s Scott Braddock joins us to discuss Harvey relief efforts and lawmakers’ response to the Las Vegas shooting.

Let’s keep the conversation going on our political blog! Capital Roundup is an extension of the interviews, debates, analysis and commentary seen on our nightly political show, Capital Tonight. We invite you to join the discussion.

Capital Tonight airs live every night at 7 p.m. with a replay at 11 p.m.